7/29/13

There isn't much to tell you this Monday. I had my regular check-up with my dentist this morning and no cavities! Yay! I've been very good with my teeth, if you don't count all the sugar I've consumed over the past six months. I was home before noon and spent most of the rest of the day finishing up the top for my True Hope quilt. This turned out nicely.

It ended up at 53 x 61 inches, so within my ping-pong table size limit for free motion quilting on my domestic sewing machine. At this point, I have no idea what I'm going to do. The pattern has some suggestions, and I may try something like what they suggest.

The pattern is called "Summer Flutter" and it's from the Spring, 2010, issue of Quilting & Embroidery magazine. In the original pattern, the fabrics have hummingbirds and the center panels are actually machine embroidered.

I've had that swallow fabric in my stash for a long time. When I saw it, it reminded me of a favorite quotation from Shakespeare's Richard III: "True hope is swift and flies with swallow's wings". I've always loved that quotation, and when I saw the fabric, I bought it without any particular quilt in mind. Shortly thereafter, I saw this pattern and decided to make it. It has worked out well for both pattern and fabric. I like the colors, which seem both muted and bright at the same time.

So the only other thing worth mentioning from today is that Mike got the go-ahead to take three weeks off in September. I think I may have mentioned this trip once before on my blog, but I haven't mentioned it lately because we weren't sure whether we would be going. Today it's official, and I can officially start getting excited.

I have the trip all planned out already. Here is the route we're taking:

We have three weeks, and it's a lot of miles. The southern-most destination is to see the north rim of the Grand Canyon, but we may not do that. We're leaving it on the map anyway. Our goal is to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Pike's Peak, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon North Rim (if we have time), and finally head home via Great Basin National Park.

It sounds like an ambitious trip, and maybe it is. We've never been to any of these places except those at the end. We've only driven through Zion, and we've been itching to spend a little time there and do some hiking. We've been to the Grand Canyon many times, but only the South Rim. We've been to Great Basin, which we loved. There was a very nice campground there, and we spent several days. We visited in mid-May (as I recall), and the highest peak in the park (Wheeler Peak) was closed because of snow. We're hoping to be able to see it this time around. Some of the places on our list are just quick stops or overnight stays, but some we'll want to stay longer and do some hiking.

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time then you know that Mike and I are avid RVer's and hikers, and we are really looking forward to this trip. And I just know Smitty and Gracie are chomping at the bit to be locked in the trailer for three weeks. Which reminds me...I forget who mentioned this to me, but we got a little kitty tent for the kitties. In addition to being able to go outside on their catio,

we now have a little screened tent so that they can be outside with us...if they like it, that is. One never knows about such things. This next image is off the Petco website so that you can see what it looks like.

It's very easy to set up and store, and so it seems like a good idea.So that's all I know on this Monday. Once the whole dental thing was over, it was a very good day. Tomorrow I have an at-home day. I want to make the Hello Moon block, and maybe consider how to piece together a back for the True Hope quilt. I only have bits and pieces of the fabrics left, so it will be a bit of a puzzle to fit it all together into a coherent whole. Don't forget that the NewFO Linky Party goes live on Wednesday. But that's not all...I have a special sponsored giveaway that will post on Friday. Just wait 'til you see what it is! Are you excited now? Here's a hint. Two words: "Outbuilding Coverlet". I know. Such a tease.

17
comments from clever and witty friends:

Love your quilt! The colors in the original are nice but yours are gorgeous!! Love the catio, very cool, I want to do something similar attached to a window in our house so Bug our inside cat can get some fresh air without running off (we live right on a busy road). Bazzill our outside cat is too lazy and timid to jump the fence so goes outside during the day and inside at night, but Bug is much more energetic and leaps tall fences in a single bound.

Not so sure about the tent, I reckon my cats would rip it to shreds in under 5 minutes :) I will be interested to hear how it goes!

Your quilt is beautiful. Always buy the fabric that speaks to you and it will eventually find its purpose. Your trip looks very ambitious. You are such a brave couple. I agree with Dana to have the kitties test out the tent, preferably off your property, to see how they react. So much to see and do, so little time.

Great trip. We've been to Rocky Mt national park and Pikes's Peak. Our kids lived in Col. Springs and PP was seen through their bedroom window! My son and hubby tried to climb but had to turn back because of snow storm in July!

That looks like a really fun trip and lots of great places to visit, I hope everything goes well. I love the cat house and the new one you got, such a fun idea. I think Moki would love it, but Izzy would go nuts and make herself sick.

OMG, we will also be traveling with our cats. I have never heard of a "catio" - what an excellent idea. Our cats are going to fall in love with camping (not) but there is no other option but to take them with us as retirement means many camping and hiking trips for us. Because we don't mean to be trapped at home by the cats when there are so many trails and national parks to explore! I am going to tell my hubby about the cat patio ;)

I've been to most of those parks, and did many of them in September as well. This spring we did Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. There is a cave/waterfall hike about 10 miles from Great Sand Dunes that was fantastic--it was in a cave,and partly frozen when we were there. I would suggest that you also add Bryce National Park and Red Canyon just down the road from it.

It looks like you'll be travelling thru' Caldwell, ID - I went to the College of Idaho there for my first year. (Now Albertson College of Idaho) I was just talking about some of the pranks we pulled while in the dorms there... Who me? I predict that you'll be having a wonderful trip. I've never seen a screened cat tent before. Hope Grace & Smitty enjoy it!

I love your True Hope quilt and the swallow fabric is fabulous. I love the Shakespeare quote but then I am a bit of a Shakespeare nut.

Your trip sounds amazing and I'm already getting excited at following along on your blog. It's not the same as doing it yourself but your photos and sense of humour come a very close second. We don't take Picasso travelling as he is very very vocal and doesn't stop. By the end of a fairly short journey he has driven us mad. He gets to stay home with lots of adoring friends and relatives waiting on his every whim.